The Eye Institute is Looking Out for Kids' in Norristown

By For The Times Herald, From a Press Release, From The Eye Institute

Saturday, June 22, 2013

The Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University has stepped up in a very big way to provide vision care services and eyeglasses to uninsured children in the Norristown Area School District.

In the spring, Norristown Councilwoman Dr. Mary (Mimi) DeSouza introduced Dr. Susan Oleszewski, vice-president for patient care services at The Eye Institute, to Norristown Area School District nurse Giselle Knoblauch.

After several meetings and strategy sessions, The Eye Institute committed to setting up a school-based eye clinic in Joseph K. Gotwals Elementary School, 1 E. Oak St. Gotwals Elementary was chosen because of the amount of uninsured children and immense need for vision care services.

In late April, a space at Gotwals was identified, equipment was moved into place and clinical providers from The Eye Institute began seeing children one day a week inside the school through June.

The school nurse identified children with the greatest vision challenges to be appointed for care. “Good vision is an essential component of learning and academic success,” Oleszewski said. “Children cannot maximize their classroom potential unless they have clear and comfortable vision.”

During the seven weeks The Eye Institute provided care at Gotwals, 59 children received vision care services. Of the 59 children, 50 required eyeglasses. The children examined at Gotwals were given a quality vision and ocular health exam along with two pairs of glasses if needed — one for home and one for school.

When children forget to bring their glasses to school, the eyeglasses left at the school are available for them to use during the day. According to Dr. Luis Trujillo, the optometrist who examined many of these children, “the eyeglass prescriptions were significant,” he said. “Without eyeglasses, these 50 children would really struggle with their school work and other daily tasks.”

The Eye Institute has a long and proud tradition of providing services to underserved populations.

This vision care initiative at Gotwals Elementary was financed through The Eye Institute’s “Looking Out for Kids” charity fund. “This pilot project has really provided a great community service for this underserved population,” Trujillo said. The annual “Looking Out for Kids” fundraiser occurs each fall and the money raised at the event helps provide vision care and eyeglasses to uninsured or under-insured children.

Oleszewski indicated the “Looking Out for Kids” charity fund will continue to be used to provide services in Norristown as much as possible.

“The Eye Institute was thrilled for the opportunity to provide these services and we hope to continue our collaboration with the Norristown Area School District in the fall of 2013,” Oleszewski said. However, the fund has its limitations and The Eye Institute continues to search for benefactors to support this important initiative. “It would be a wonderful contribution to the Norristown community if we could expand this program and reach even more children,” she said.

For more information about The Eye Institute’s “Looking Out for Kids” charity fund, visit www.TEIvision.com/LOFK. To support the Norristown Area School District vision care initiative, call 215-276-6070 or email Dr. Susan Oleszewski at sueo@salus.edu.